I have just bought a 2005 Lancer RA and I have a few questions.
1. A couple of days after I bought it I got Service Engine Soon light on and when I scanned it, it says that I have to change the O2 sensor so I replaced it with no problems. Being under the car I've noticed that there is no O2 sensor after the cat only this one before the cat. Is that how this car is or the previous owner took it out completely when he put a Magnavox muffler?

2. I have read through this forum and I saw that there are problems with the fan controller unit where the fan is turning on and off whenever it likes not when is suppose to. Mine is on all the time, from the minute I turn on the car(with the engine cold) till 5 seconds after I turn it off. Do you think I have to replace the controller or the previous owner mod it to stay on all the time?

3. When I cruise on the highway at 60-70 mph and I punch it, it downshifts ok but it doesn't really put me into the seat. The only mods I see that are done are the cold air intake, exhaust and the car has been lowered and it has automatic trany. What else can I do (small budget) to get more high end power?

Thank you in advance for all your help.

P.S. I bought it from the dealer and I have no way to contact the previous owner to get all these details.

 

welcome to EvoM!!!
IIFC there should be a o2 sensor after the cat, kinda strange it would be gone for just the exhaust, as for the mods i would recommend anything in my Sig, i noticed you said automatic, you may not get the same kick we 5 speed guys get but after a few mods and changes here and there you will have some more fun. talk to my boy Raikiri, hes auto and knows a good deal, should help you out.
-Flip

 

Thank you Flip for your quick reply. I am planning to get the RRM pulley and the progress sway bar next week. But first I want to take care of all these issues.

 

Sounds to me like you need to take that car back to dealer. Previous owner must have been an idiot.

 

First off, welcome. I hope the person who had it before you didn't beat the hell out of it. I also have an A/T and I've had the same problem with the lack of kick at higher speed. Now around 50-55 and it downshifts, it puts me in my seat. It's one of my favorite things to do in my RA. Definitely get yourself some headers with your CAI and exhaust and you'll definitely get more power. U/D pulley as well.

I also have the same problem with the fan ever since I've had the car. Everyone thinks my engine is still on when we get out of my car.

 

How many miles did it have when you bought it?

 

there are 2 O2 sensors one before and one after the cat. not sure what kind of idiot the previous owner was.

get that controller replaced for the fan. eventually i believe the controller will blow out and your fans will cease to work causing an engine overheat.

agreed on headers/downpipe for your setup to free up some power. ud pulley is also a good start

 

Thank you for all the replys.

I bought it from the dealer As Is for a steal: $3400. It has 85000 miles.

Looks like the previous owner put a Magnaflow( sorry not a Magnavox) exhaust from the header back and he eliminated the sensor after the cat.

I will get the controller replaced tomorrow.

 

So what are my options now with the O2 sensor? I was looking into the O2 sim but I have no idea where to connect it.

 

odd to ditch the sensor, if there is just pipe there thats not stock you will have to have a bung welded in. even with the CEL elim it needs to screw into where the 02 sensor already was.

 

Yea that is a steal, nice! Still seems like the previous owner was a jackass. I hope you take really good care of that ra!

 

I think I fixed the O2 issue. I bought 2 spark plugs arresters and drilled one of them to make space for the sensor and put them between the pipe and sensor. So far so good...
Now I want to change my spark plugs but Auto Zone doesn't have them and told me that I can only get them from the dealer, so I wen to the dealer and they are $14 a piece... Can anyone direct me in the right way here because $14 for a spark plug it's a lot...

Thank you.

 

if what you're saying is true... you're going to kill your gas mileage

the 2 anti-foulers are supposed to go on the O2 sensor after the cat

 

Honestly, at 150-160hpwhp with your mods on a 3200lbs+ car, you're not going to feel that push in the seat... I say enjoy the car for what it is!

 

they're all that much... they last for 96'000km.